The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-09
AT GETTYSBURG.
Rauuiou of Pickefi's Men and The
Philadelphia brigade.

Reunion of Pickeffs Men ana The
Philadelphia Brisadc
From, the Baltimore San.
GETTYSBURG, Pa, July AIS stated IN the
Sun this morning the members OF the fhila-
deIphia brigade and Pickett's division began
the celebration of the glorious Fourth at
twelve o'clock last night with booming OF
cannon on East Cemetery Hill and the roar
of fire crackers in the town. Pandemonium
reiened for one hour and half. No such
noise has disturbed this little village since the
three memorable days Of GO. This morning
at seven O'Clock the members OF Plcketts
division proceeded to the courthouse and were
called to order by Col. Aylett Some one
nronosed that every member of the division
present should give % cents toward paying
the EXPENSE which Mrs. Pickett incurred on
this visit. The proposition was accepted with
cheers, and the way the money ratified on the
secretary's desk was sufficient proof OF the
esteem in which Mrs. Pickett is held by the
division. Resolutions were then adopted
thanking the Philadelphia brigade for the
hospitable manner in which they had treated
them, the town authorities for the way they
Lad received them, their own officials for the
trouble and time they had gwen to bringing
about this reunion, and all soldiers for their
fraternal greeting. Rev. Richard Ferguson
made telling speech on traternal feeling.
Major Horace w. Jones was appointed chair
man of a committee to arrange for the return
of Pickett's men. The meeting then adjourn
ed, and outside the building they Joined in
procession with the Philadelphia brigade.
The Pickett men linked arm with the Phila-
delphians. and the line proceeded to the
Eagle Hotel, where the party took carriages
and started over the battlefield. In the first
carriage were Mrs. Gen. Pickett and her son
George, Mrs. Chas Banes, wife of the com
mander of the Philadelphia brigade, and Col.
Bachelor. Fully one hundred carriages
were in the line, which proceeded by the En-
mitsburg road to the Spangler lane. Into
this they turned and proceeded past the farm.
house to the rising ground beyond. Here all
alighted, and then the word went round that
Mrs. Pickett was going to hold reception on
the very ground over which her husband s
command had charged and within a few yards
of the woods under whose cover he twenty
years before had formed his division. The
Pickett men were first formed in line and one
by one advanced and were introduced to the
wife of their old commander.
The reception was most affecting. Confed-
crate soldiers cried like children. Mrs. Pick
EFT was moved to tears, and some Union SOL
diers, as well as their lady friends, were seen
with tears glistening in their eyes, Geo. e.,
Pickett, Mrs. Banes, wife Of the commander
Of the Philadelphia brigade, Judge W. ii.
Clopton, of Manchester, Va, formerly Of the
Virginia Battery, and c. C. Wertenbaker,
adjutant of the Nineteenth Virginia Infantry,
stood with Mrs. Pickett during the reception.
The ceremony progressed for some little time
almost in silence, the announcement of the
name and the military command of the man
presented alone breaking the silence. Pres
emily Adjutant Wertenbaker was heard crying
to Col. Joseph Mayo, of the Third Virginia,
"Come back, Joe, and shake hands with
George Pickett" Col. Mayo had not seen
his old comrades son. Col. VIM. Poague,
Sergeant Thompson of Latham Battery, Major
w. W. Parker of Parkers Battery, Major W.
w. Bentley of Pulaski, Col. Aylett, Major
Edmondson and Ensign Robert Tyler Jones
were among the Pickett men prominent at
the reception. After all the Pickett men had
been received number Of ladies were pre-
sented. Then came the Philadelphia brigade.
They all shook hands with Mrs. Pickett and
her son. Mrs. Pickett had a salutation for
each one, and her words, ''Thank you all for
your cordial welcome to u.s." drew forth a
manly response, Among the salutations to
her from the Philadelphans werei sGod
bless you, Mrs. Pickett" afou are identified
now with another army ofbrave men, I.Y You
have met many brave men to-day" There
''This will bring everything right again"
| Col, w. D. Holtzworth, the guide, was very
cordial to Mrs. Pickett. Autograph books
were presented by members of the brigade
for the names of Mrs. Pickett and her son.
The names were written in the books in pen
/ ell.
| After the reception Mrs. Pickett watched
the forming Of the two bodies of men into
opposing lines as they were on the day of the
charge, the object being to fix definitely and
exactly the positions of each on that day.
The representatives of the two armies in par
allel lines marched to the upper grounds, the
ladies accompanying them. 1t was a rare
sight Colonel Joseph Mayo faced the Con-
federates, and pointed out the positions they
occupied, to which there was q general as
sent, Garnet's-the senior and directing
brigade-yas on the left, kemper'G brigade
was on the right, Armistead's brigade, sup
| porting, was in the rear and overlapping.
| The arrangement of the regiments in the bri-
gades was as follows: Garnet's, commene
ing on the left, ffty-sixth, twenty eighth,
nineteenth, eighteenth, eighth; Kemper's,
commencing Oh the left, third, seventh, first,
eleventh, twenty fourth; Arriistead's, City
seventh, thirty eight, fifty. third. ninth, four
teenth. Armisteads brigade formed about
fifty yards from the woods. Its right was on
the field, its left in the woods. The charge
was three quarters of a mile long.
While the band was playing a medley of
Confederate and Union war songs, as the
veterans were starting on their ride over the
field TO day, i a.ruck up yankee Doodle"
Instantly "rebel yell'' and o Union cheer
showed that the war song Of their fathers
above all others had touched a sympathetic
chord in the breasts of both.
This evening . religious service was held.
In the absence Of the chaplain, Rev. J. X.
Demorest was asked 10 speak before 2 gath
eripg, of Pickett's men mainly, in the court.
house. He spoke to them on the subject of
the day How much the liberty and bFotherly
feeling characteristic of our land should en-
dear it to all its citizens.
Mrs, Pickett held a farewell reception to-
night. A great crowd of ladies and gentle
men called and crowd collected that oh
structed the streets. The Philadelphia brigade
later ssrenaded her. There was baptism Of
sounded like cannonade. The band played
Southern airs, ending with "Dixie. Chap
lain Ferguson, of Piekett's division, made a
speech from the step to the large crowd Col.
Berkeley made fine speech, Adjutant White
car presented Mrs. Pickett with a brigade
badge. Little John and James McKeever,
sons of Quartermaster McKeeyer, of the sixty
ninth Regiment, prese1ted her with the Irish
and AmeriGag guidops that regiment carried.
There was much enthusiasm among the citi-
gems. It is proposed that . campfire now
going on at Sixty-ninth headquarters shall
continue through tho night, Col. Aylett and
Major Edmondsop were among the speakers,
The Pickett men leave here at O'Clock to-
morrow morning for Richmond.
Fourth of July Casualties.